Effect of footwear on minimum foot clearance, heel slippage and spatiotemporal measures of gait in older women

• Higher minimum foot clearance when wearing well-fitted footwear compared to slippers.
• Heel slippage was greater when walking in the slippers compared to well-fitted footwear.
• Dorsal fixation securing the footwear onto the foot may improve walking confidence.
• Well-fitted footwear improved several spatiotemporal variables of gait in older women.

Footwear has been implicated as a factor in falls, which is a major issue affecting the health of older adults. This study investigated the effect of footwear with dorsal fixation, slippers and bare feet on minimum foot clearance, heel slippage and spatiotemporal variables of gait in community dwelling older women. Thirty women participated (mean age (SD) 69.1 (5.1) years) in a gait assessment using the GaitRITE and Vicon 612 motion analysis system. Conditions included footwear with dorsal fixation, slippers or bare feet. Footwear with dorsal fixation resulted in improved minimum foot clearance compared to the slippers and bare feet conditions and less heel slippage than slippers and an increase in double support. These features lend weight to the argument that older women should be supported to make footwear choices with optimal fitting features including dorsal fixation. Recommendations of particular styles and features of footwear may assist during falls prevention education to reduce the incidence of foot trips and falls.